Mozia

A tiny island off the West coast of Sicily, Mozia has some of the most remarkable Phoenician remains of the Mediterranean basin. They were discovered by Giuseppe Whitaker who acquired the island in 1902, believing it could be home to one of the largest and richest Phoenician cities of the 8th century B.C.E. Mozia is also a small natural paradise. It is located in the nature reserve of La Stagnone, between Trapani and Marsala.
Commencing with a delightful boat trip to the island, through the saline (salt basins) you will stroll the islet in the company of your guide archaeologist, admiring the settlement’s fortification walls and turrets, necropolis and sanctuaries dating back to the 7th centuries B.C., you will also admire the superb pebbled mosaics of the “House of Capitals” (6-3rd century B.C.) excavated by Giuseppe Whitaker, and named in such a way due to the variety of capitals dug out from the area.

In addition to the main archaeological site, your itinerary also includes visits to,
The Whitaker’s Museum
The museum presents an important collection of Phoenician and Greek artifacts discovered on the site. It hosts numerous steles rich in religious symbolism from the two main sanctuaries, a great deal of materials from the necropolis and, most notably, a magnificent 5th century B.C.E. Greek statue representing a young man, the Giovinetto di Mozia, excavated in 1979.The Whitaker’s summer house
Giuseppe Whitaker and his family used to spend a good part of their summer on the island. You will visit their small country house which has been left intact, with its original furniture and decoration, thus getting an insight into the Whitakers’ lifestyle on Mozia.Marsala's Baglio Anselmi.Balio Anselmi, Marsala’s archaeological museum, exposes, among various finds from the lagoon and beyond, a substantial and well preserved part of a Punic warship discovered near Mozia in 1971 – a sensational discovery since no other ship of its type was ever found.